Abstract

New polymeric silver (Ad composites were prepared using polyethersuEfone (PES) as polymer
material, N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidoize @MP) as solvent andpolyvinylpyrollidone (PVP) of various
molecular weight (MW) as organic fillers. Silver nitrate (AgNOJ was added by various loading
in order to impart an antibacterial property to the composites. The miscibility of PES/Ag@llers
composites were characterized ming TGA and any changes in chemical bonding were
characterized using ATR-FTIR techniques. The XPS results showed high intensity in Eb(Ag3d)
range of 378.1-378 5 and 372.2-372.5 for the highest Ag loading with PVP with the highest MW.
This phenomenon had altered the hydrophilicity property of composites. In this study, composites
have undergone a bacteria rejection test ?om E,coli suspension and a domestic waste sample.
Composites with highest loading of silver and highest MW of PVP (PES-Ag2P360) was observed
for significantly high bacteria rejection, log reduction value ('RV-3). Therefore, PES-silver
nanocomposites is a potential membrane for bacteria removal, disinfection and maybe effective
for overcoming biofoulingproblems.